“About a year ago we decided to streamline our offerings, move away from complete bicycle sales and focus on components, suspension, apparel and accessories to better serve our customers,” said Alex Gardner, MODUS Sport Group Agency principal. “I was looking for a helmet line and a company that fit in with our personalities,style and gravity interests.

French manufacturer Cyfac is getting back into the pro racing game by supplying the Continental-registered Veranda Rideau-U team for 2012. It’s the first time the company has supplied a pro team since 2001, although the company said it has supplied top riders with race bikes under different brands as recently as 2003.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (BRAIN)—Distributor QBP is helping support a nonprofit community cycling center in north Minneapolis.

The shop, called Venture North Bike, Walk & Coffee, sells affordable bikes, parts and accessories and offers community education and career training programs for area youth.

“Venture North’s mission to expand access to biking is very much aligned with our own mission to get every butt on a bike,” said Seth Nesselhuf, director of QBP’s Advocacy, Community Service and Environment (ACE) committee. “By bringing a fully operational bike shop to this underserved community, Venture North is providing real opportunities for people to experience the physical, mental and economic benefits of cycling—not to mention the fun.”

Venture North is financed by a variety of sources, including a grant from the city of Minneapolis, and funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.